Secondhand Setlists

Small but mighty – the Mint buzzes with excitement long before Njomza ever hits the stage.

Outside the club, I heard plenty of VIPs from labels and agencies alike. Njomza is a big deal, in case her songwriting credits failed to give that away.

Sporting neon blue hair and an even neon-er green bodysuit, she arrived to the stage amid rousing applause. She made the most of the smaller stage, getting up close and personal with the closest rows.

Her voice falls somewhere between standard pop star and the gravelly tone of UK gritties like Ella Eyre. It carries quite well and held its own for the 10ish song set, comprised of R&B and trap-infused songs suited for her particular swagger.

“I’ve always wanted to do this,” she said to the audience, visibly invested in the burgeoning pop star.

They knew every word – Njomza would aim her mic at the audience and no perceptible break would occur. At one point, an audience member handed her a bouquet and a shirt with Mac Miller’s visage. As it turns out, Miller turned the world on to Njomza after he found her on YouTube. Later, she gave the late MC a shoutout, lamenting a soul who passed too soon.

Her guitarist played with his hands behind his back and the drummer banged along in his neon pink tiger sweater. I wanna know where he got it.

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She, like her band, saved her biggest dramatics for last. The penultimate (song) brought her to her to the floor, upon which she sang her heart out. The small size of the stage mattered not at all – Njomza boasts enough credit, talent, and fans to feel anything but small herself.